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Pat Cummings, who played forward for the Knicks in the mid-1980s, died yesterday afternoon in a friend’s apartment on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. He was 55.

The medical examiner will perform an autopsy today to determine the cause of death, though as of last night there were no signs of criminality.

Cummings’ girlfriend found him unconscious on a pullout couch. He later was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cummings made his name playing in a Knicks’ frontcourt with Patrick Ewing and Bill Cartwright from 1984-88. After four years at the University of Cincinnati, the Bucks chose the 6-foot-9 forward from Johnstown, Pa., in the third round of the 1978 draft. He was traded to the Mavericks in 1982, and in 1984 signed with the Knicks as a free agent.

Later, Cummings also played for the Heat and the Jazz.

In 683 NBA games over 12 seasons, Cummings averaged 9.6 points per game and 5.6 rebounds.